Maltby Colliery. Picture: Marie Caley NWGU MC 11

Ex-miners and surface workers gathered at the site to see the 78-metre-high building brought to ground level.

For many the tower held fond memories of their time working at the pit.

The demolition is the latest development in the de-commissioning of Maltby Colliery, which had its first mining shafts sunk in 1910.

Hargreaves Services plc, owners and operators of Maltby Colliery since 2007, have been engaging with specialist contractors since the mine ceased operations in 2013, working to remove a number of the mine’s main buildings and cap the old mine shafts.